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Category: Industry News

25 Feb

Why Not Visit Linn?

Linn loves to welcome visitors to their Richard Rogers designed facility in Glasgow, Scotland. Come and relax in their beautifully appointed Linn Home where you’ll have the unique audio experience of hearing your favourite music on their award-winning network music systems. It’s also a stylish setting for a drinks reception or private dinner party. If you’re looking for the perfect venue for a meeting or conference they have got that covered too with their Boardroom and Ballroom. You can also receive a tour of their state-of-the-art factory. Everything bearing the Linn name is designed and manufactured under one roof so you can see every stage of the process and discover the history of Linn as you follow each step in the creation of the world’s best music systems. If you’d like to visit Linn, use our contact form here or drop us an email at [email protected] and we’ll contact you to arrange the details.

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27 Sep

INTRODUCING EXAKT – THE SOURCE IS IN THE SPEAKER

Linn are proud to introduce a new revolution in hi-fi – Exakt. By integrating Source-First, Aktiv and DS into one incredible new technology, Exakt, Linn has turned the loudspeaker into an intelligent, connected, software-upgradeable product. Linn Exakt eliminates the loss caused by analogue crossovers in design, corrects for variance in drive units in manufacture, and optimises performance for a customer’s room through specialist installation. The Source is in the Speaker Exakt builds on DS to radically improve the performance of music systems by pushing the lossless digital path all the way to the speaker, keeping the signal digital and only converting to analogue at the last possible stage. A breakthrough innovation Exakt consists of two new technologies: Exakt Link and Exakt Engine. Exakt Link losslessly sends digital data from an Exakt DSM to an Exakt Speaker. It ensures accuracy, guarantees latency, maintains exceptionally low jitter, and provides extreme precision synchronisation between speakers. Inside the Exakt Speaker is Linn’s Exakt Engine. Exakt Engine is a digital platform that enables a whole new range of audio performance enhancing capabilities in design, manufacture and in the customer’s home. The Exakt engine: Eliminates the magnitude and phase distortion of analogue crossovers at design time Corrects for the manufacturing tolerances of individual drive units at manufacturing time Optimises a customer’s system for their room at installation time The following introductory videos explain what Exakt does and how it works: How Exakt Works What Exakt Can Do Exakt Systems are uniquely built by Linn for every customer Exakt is for both new and existing customers, modern and traditional audiophiles. Linn have created the following systems: Klimax Exakt System, comprising Klimax Exakt DSM and Klimax Exakt 350 speakers for new customers Exakt upgrades for Klimax 350 and Artikulat owners, comprising a Klimax Exakt DSM, replacement 3K arrays and new Klimax Exakt modules for the customer’s speakers Exakt upgrades initially for externally Aktiv 350, Keltik & Komri owners, comprising a Klimax Exakt DSM and Klimax Exakt Tunebox (available from November) Call for more information 0207 454 1234 or 01277890888

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1 Aug

Kaleidescape Store launches in UK alongside new Cinema One system

Kaleidescape has launched the new Cinema One movie server, a (slightly) more affordable and more accessible version of the Kaleidescape high-end home cinema experience. The Kaleidescape Cinema One (£3,295) is released alongside the UK launch of the Kaleidescape Store, a film and TV show download service that uniquely makes the complete Blu-ray (and DVD) disc experience available to download, including 1080p video, HD audio soundtracks and all the extras found on physical media. Traditionally sold primarlily through the custom installation industry, the Kaleidescape system is a bespoke film playback and storage service that allows users to copy DVDs and Blu-rays from their collection to a hard disk drive. The system comes with a bespoke user interface complete with a number of unique features, such as the company’s Movie Guide complete with cover art and synopsis, quick playback thanks to the removal of pre-film messages and intelligent search by genre/actor/director and more.   The new Kaleidescape Cinema One has room to store 100 Blu-ray discs and 600 DVDs thanks to a 4TB hard disk and is essentially a standalone high-end Blu-ray player and server in one, complete with the bespoke interface. The storage isn’t expandable, though you can link two Cinema One machines together to get the added bonus of an extra cinema zone and also double your overall capacity. Films can also be deleted and then subsequently re-accessed at a later date once the system knows you have the disc in your library. One slight drawback is the fact that the Blu-ray standard doesn’t allow you to play your BD copies back without reinserting the disc in the Cinema One. There’s no such issue with DVDs or downloads from the Kaleidescape Store. The Store, which launched in the US first, is now available in the UK. A deal with Warner Bros has brought the first block of content to the service, though Kaleidescape is confident about adding more film studios in the not too distant future. Currently there are around 400 films and 450 TV episodes.   Downloads promise the physical media experience on a disc: 1080p/24fps video and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio lossless soundtracks, plus bonus features including director’s commentary, alternate endings, deleted scenes and more. You can also upgrade your copied DVDs to HD versions, access any UltraViolet streaming copies that came with your purchased discs (watchable on phones and tablets through the Flixster app), and buy multiple films and collections with one click. Prices are broadly comparable to Blu-ray disc prices, while upgrading from your DVD copy to an HD download costs around £5. You will of course need a Kaleidescape system, though. And at £3,295 the Cinema One is still very much a premium offering, albeit more accessible than the existing multiroom Kaleidescape systems that find their way in to luxury homes and yachts – until now the company’s core business. Source: What HiFi

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19 Jul

Universal Music announces vinyl crowdfunding initiative

Out-of-print vinyl records may be making a return though a Kickstarter-style funding initiative. Universal Music has announced The Vinyl Project (through its vinyl arm, Uvinyl), a website that will allow fans to register their interest in particular LPs, specifically “rare and deleted” albums. Similar to Ninja Tune’s own re-printing service, if the crowdfunding intitative proves successful, the LP will receive a re-press and backers will receive limited edition prints of old records as well as digital downloads and personalised art prints. The initial list of albums available for the service has not been announced but will be revealed once the site is up and running. Source: WhatHiFi

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22 May

Has the sun set on Logitech Audio?

  The short and simple answer? Yes. Logitech will now sell all of its audio products under the Ultimate Ears brand. The firm announced today it has gone through a rebranding, with all audio products to be labelled ‘UE’, in a move to create a stronger high-street presence. The Logitech stamp will remain on computer accessories. Ultimate Ears began life in 1995 when a sound engineer created custom in-ear monitors to allow Alex Van Halen to hear his band members during performances. Since then, the brand has become a supplier of in-ear monitors for professional musicians. Logitech bought Ultimate Ears in 2008, and has been selling audio products as the ‘Logitech UE’ range. Existing products like the Logitech UE Air Speaker and Mobile Boombox will continue to be sold with the current branding. Logitech UK senior marketing manager Darren Mangan said, “We believe that Ultimate Ears’ rich heritage in serving the world’s top touring musicians will appeal to consumers. You will continue to see the same signature sound in our Ultimate Ears line-up that you found in our Logitech UE products.” The company’s first product has also been launched, the UE Boom, ‘the world’s first social media player’. To check out Rococo’s range of Logitech products, click here. [For full story, click here]

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2 Apr

Linn Akubarik – The Linn Activ Loudspeaker You’ve Been Waiting 40 Years For

40 years of Linn’s loudspeaker knowledge and expertise have been applied to produce the Linn Akubarik – a new Linn loudspeaker that stands apart from the crowd. Linn Akubarik includes a host of ground-breaking technical developments as well building on key technologies from Linn’s reference Linn Klimax 350A loudspeakers. What So Special About Linn Akubarik? There are many aspects to Linn Akubarik that make it a very special loudspeaker – so here are some of the highlights: Integrated With Aktiv filters and Chakra power amplification all on one board, the circuit layout is optimised for the shortest signal path, eliminating interconnections and reducing noise. Powered by Linn’s latest generation Dynamik, the loudspeaker is completely silent, thanks to efficient and passive cooling without the need for a fan. 3k Array Linn’s unique 3K driver array houses the mid-range, tweeter and super-tweeter drive units close together to replicate a single point source with wide dispersion, ensuring great sound wherever you listen. Isobarik Bass System Linn have gone back to their roots with an isobaric bass system cleverly concealed in the lower section of the loudspeaker cabinet to produce lots of rich, deep bass within a surprisingly compact package. Cabinet Already being hailed the ‘Baby Klimax 350A’, Linn Akubarik takes design cues from their reference loudspeaker. But the curves not only look beautiful, they’ve been designed with great sound in mind. The New Akurate System Completing the Linn Akurate system, Linn Akurate DSM and Linn Akubarik loudspeakers offer a new level of performance and simplicity, and provide the best value system available in the market at this price point. Linn Akubarik is available in Linn’s 6 standard or high gloss wood veneer finishes as well as over 200 high gloss colour finishes. You can choose between chrome or black 3K arrays, and the loudspeaker comes with a black painted stainless steel stand with stainless steel spike and lock nut system.

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1 Feb

Amping It Up

With the ever-growing demand for more products to be designed with the environment in mind, it has spawned some ingenius products which are simple and do not have any negative effects on the environment. In the Hi-Fi and home entertainment industry there have not been many radical environmentally driven products. But now a completely new fresh, simplistic approach has been taken with the Eco-amp which costs less than $8 and consists of  paper design that is folded and slots on the bottom of an iPhone. It is certainly the most rudimentary product I’ve ever seen, but nonetheless it is the only amplification product that has been designed purely with the environment in mind – perfect for amping it up, guilt free. Whether or not it will appeal to the general market is a completely different story. Of course if you are simply looking for a more energy efficient amplifier, you can pick from a variety of modern designs. Strongest Amplifier Ever? Linn produce some phenomenal power amplifiers, like the Linn Majik 6100, but nothing can compare to the latest invention by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology. More sensitive than the most carefully designed pre-amp, this is a parametric amplifier. Incorporating superconductors like titanium nitride (TiN) and niobium titanium nitride (NbTiN), the device is designed for astronomy and amplifying signals from distant galaxies, black holes and other cosmic phenomena. As well as the myriad possibilities for interplanetary communication, the tech has exciting implications for other industries. While it may be decades before the technology is perfected to be cheap and compact enough for everyday application, imagine a parametric audio amp with the range of a power amp and the fine tuning abilities of the most exquisite of pre-amps… this would revolutionise music and communication on earth.

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19 Jul

Vinyl Resurgence

It is already well known amongst many music aficionados that vinyl records have been enjoying a resurgence in recent years with huge store-chains like HMV selling them in high street stores. Which is certainly the case in my nearest branch. This chart shows how in the world of declining internet sales because of piracy, other formats have been enjoying significant sales surpluses. (chart via Digital Music News) The origins of this resurgence lie in the increasing number of contemporary artists who are choosing to release on vinyl along with the mainstream digital formats as well. Their prevalence is being felt in independent record stores with a recent statisitc showing that the majority of vinyl sales are done in independent record shops. As this statisitc shows: The newly pressed vinyl that is being sold in these stores mainly consits of re-releases of classic albums, such as The Beatles’ Abbey Road as well as many contemporary artists choosing to release on Vinyl. With world-class bands like Coldplay releasing their album, Mylo Xyloto, in vinyl. The most commercially successful album of 2011, Adele’s 21, was also released in vinyl and it is evidence of vinyl moving from being the domain of nostalgic hipsters to a widely accepted mainstream format. Other artists that still release on vinyl include the long established groups like U2 and Status Quo who both have released their latest material on vinyl. Most recently Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball was also released on vinyl and is a good example of well established artists still using vinyl as a format for their new material.

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18 Jun

Do Light Dimmers Save Energy?

They certainly do! There is a common misconception that dimmer switches merely convert restricted electricity into heat, for no real saving. This was true of the very old fashioned, early models, but today’s dimmer switches, like Lutron’s system, dial down the energy used as well as the light, helping you create a romantic or soothing atmosphere in a trice. When a light is dimmed by 25%, the dimmer switch saves about 20% of the electricity required. When dimmed by 50%, it saves 40% of the electricity. If you use a non-fluorescent bulb, a dimmer will also extend the life of the light bulb. Yet while fluorescent bulbs can be a problem (some even stubbornly refusing to dim), Lutron have already developed CL Dimmers for use with these formerly difficult light sources. This means manual dimmers can save you money, but you can also install programmable lighting systems that raise, lower or switch off lights at certain times, or when a room is occupied (very useful for us absent minded types). These light management systems can improve your productivity, reduce electricity consumption and help save the environment – without undue sacrifice or discomfort. The New York Times Building is a Lutron success story. The building times and tunes available light, dims itself when daylight is abundant, uses automated window shades when light is too bright and constantly adjusts itself. As a result, the New York Times are saving about $600,000 a year in energy costs, a saving that paid for itself in a year. Lutron GRAFIK Eye pre-set dimming controls increase the functionality, flexibility and beauty of any space, from the simplest residential applications to the most complex commercial applications. One standard product family handles virtually any job. GRAFIK Eye 3000 Series controls operate via integral dimmers for residential and smaller commercial applications. Rococo Systems & Design are authorised Lutron Dealers and for your peace of mind all our Lutron engineers are fully trained and certified by Lutron. If you are unsure on which grafik eye is right for you please contact us. Easy To Use With simple controls and easy programming, setting presets and transitioning between them can be mastered in a matter of minutes. Multiple Control Options The GRAFIK Eye 3000 can be controlled directly from the main unit or through additional wallstations, infrared remote controls, or a PC interface. Easy To Design & Install For new installations, there is no need for custom design or wiring. In a retrofit application, use existing wiring, including 3-way switches. GRAFIK Eye 3000 utilizes standard backboxes. In addition, the system can be connected to Sivoia QED shades for control fo daylight. Click here to view the Lutron Grafik Eye 3000 Series on our site now.

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1 Jun

The 10 Greatest Music Gadgets ever.

What are the greatest music gadgets ever invented? Find out which 10 important pieces of music-making kit changed everything for the better. As Friedrich Nietzsche once said: “Life without music would be a mistake.” 1. Dansette (1952)   Selling one million units in the 50s and 60s, Dansette became a household name in post-war Britain just as the music industry blossomed with first The Shadows and subsequently The Beatles. Made in London, the Dansette was an integrated player, complete with built-in amp and speaker. It set the look for turntables of the era and, more importantly, provided the soundtrack to My Generation, baby. Original price: 33 Guineas | Used by: The Beatles | Dansette.co.uk 2. Regency TR-1 Transistor (1954)   Built by Texas Instruments and I.D.E.A., this coupled the former’s transistors with the latter’s antenna nous to produce the first widely successful portable radio. Now a design icon, the TR-1 – or, more accurately, its cheaper successors – changed the world by allowing suburban kids to hear the “race” (ie: black) music that became known as rock and roll. Step aside Eddie Izzard: THIS was the first world-famous trannie. Original price: $50 | Used by: Chuck Berry | Regencytr1.com 3. Fender Stratocaster (1954)   The iconic ‘Strat’ is still the most recognisable electric guitar in the world. Selling in the millions even today, the classic features a solid body, three single-coil pick-ups and a double cutaway design that allows easy access to the higher octaves. Widely mimicked, but rarely bettered, it’s been used by everyone from punks to bluesmen to progressive noodlers such as Mike Oldfield.   Original price: $250 | Used by: Jimi Hendrix | Fender.com 4. Minimoog (1970)   The monophonic Minimoog revolutionised music one note at a time, putting the alien sounds of hitherto room-sized, wallet-busting synths into a more portable and affordable package. Synthesized bloops and squawks began to creep into the repertoire of everyone from Floyd to Zeppelin, then the proto-electro of Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. According to no less an authority than Rick Wakeman, the Minimoog “absolutely changed the face of music”. Original price: $1,495 | Used by: Kraftwerk | Moogmusic.com 5. Linn Sondek LP12 (1972)   The LP12 is the world’s best-known hi-fi turntable. Made in Glasgow, the deck has cult status in audiophile circles, dominated the scene in the 70s and 80s and is used by many an audio reviewer as a reference. The deck has countless after-market modification kits available, but its fundamental design remains unchanged from the 1972 original.   The Linn Sondek is available to buy at Rococo Systems & Design now. Grab yours here and receive fantastic savings! Original price: £80 | Used by: Rolling Stones | Linn.co.uk 6. Technics SL-1210 (1972)   Originally produced as a hi-fi consumer unit, and put out under a Panasonic offshoot brand, the SL-1210 and its very near cousin the SL-1200 have been synonymous with DJ setups since 1978. Rock solid in its build and reliability, and durable enough to withstand the worst the DMC World DJ Championship can throw at it, these are the original “wheels of steel”.   Original price: £120 | Used by: Every DJ in the history of dance music up to about 2008 | Panasonic.co.uk 7. Sony Walkman TPS-L2 (1979)     A portable cassette player with lightweight headphones, the Walkman kick-started the MTV age. It was high-tech, miniature Japanese engineering at its finest and became an icon. Which is why Sony still clings to the brand to this very day.     Original price: $200 | Used by: Michael Jackson | Sony.com 8. Roland TR-808 (1980)   One of the first cheap drum machines, the 808 was originally built as a studio tool to help create demos, but its “unrealistic”, clonking sound soon found favour with hip-hop artists. Used on more hit records than any other drum machine, it also powered the dance music revolution of the late 80s, along with Roland’s TB-303 “acid machine”.   Original price: $1,195 | Used by: Beastie Boys | Roland.co.uk 9. Korg M1 (1988)     More than just a keyboard, the M1 was a full-on workstation: a MIDI sequencer with a bank of sounds that went on to become the best-selling digital synthesiser of all time. Ahead of its time, the M1 had a 4MB capacity – hey, that was tonnes in ’88 – expansion slots and an LCD display.   Original price: $2,166 | Used by: Pet Shop Boys | Korg.co.uk 10. Apple iPod (2001)   Jobs and Ive’s thin white juke has done as much for music appreciation as any device, putting “1,000 songs in your pocket” at launch. Since then it’s caused the demise of the high-street music shop, replaced albums with playlists and turned Apple into a behemoth. Yet with iOS switching its iPod app to Music and the Classic’s design gathering dust, is the end almost nigh?   Original price: $400 for 5GB model | Used by: Coldplay | Apple.com/uk

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